Holidays are approaching!

It's been a little while since we've posted, so adding a few holiday photos.  Reagan is much more interactive now, eating solid foods and waking up at 5am almost every morning!  She smiles, laughs, and wiggles furiously on her belly like she's swimming.  She's also started something else that you'll see below!  Maddie has been enjoying school and has really taken to reading and drawing pictures. Hunter has been enjoying 'Angry Birds'.  If you've not heard of it, it's a game we downloaded on our IPad and now we're all addicted.  We're looking forward to Christmas in Tenn and we'll be there in only 1 more week!  Enjoy, and may God bless you this holiday!  

Santa w/the whole Maples brood!

Our girls  :)

Reading the paper??

Pretty in pink!

Reagan's 1st crawl!  (at 7mo!)

Fall photos

Just some recent photos from a Fall Festival and Halloween.  Reagan is growing so quickly now, eating baby foods and sitting up on her own.  Hunter is enjoying his school and the most common request we get is 'Can I do the IPAD'?  Maddie is reading and writing many more words now and is quite the artist.  Enjoy!

This wasn't a pose....hope it's always this way.

Rainbow butterfly!

Potato sack races are always fun!

Reagan is really enjoying baths now...splashing and such.

Someone woke up on the wrong side of a nap and didn't want to wear a costume to trick or treat!

Our little monkey.

More festival fun.

Maddie is 5!!

So our 'little' girl turned 5 this week!  She started kindergarten a couple weeks ago and goes 5 days a week, from 830-315.  Long days!  Anyhow, she had quite the blowout for her 5th....ears pierced, tea party, pedicure w/her friends, cupcakes, presents, and fun activities.  It was quite the party!  Below are some pictures from the day.  I'd be remissed if I didn't include a few of the other family members, and there's a funny video at the end.  Enjoy!

All dressed up for the tea party!

Hard to see, but those ears are pierced!

If there's train (even inside the mall?!), we HAVE to ride it!

Our newest VOL!

The 'girls' getting their toenails done and given the royal treatment!

Hunter ready for preschool.

Daddy & Reagan wiped out after the party!  Mommy snuck this one.

Swimming & Shrek!!

Just a few pictures from recent events.  G'ma & G'pa came up in July to deliver our 2 eldest from their extended vacation in TN, and the whole family (- Bill) went to visit A. Linda & U. Anthony and have some fun in their pool.  We also rewarded Maddie for stopping her thumb sucking by taking the kids to make a Cookie Castle w/Princess Fiona from the movie Shrek.  It was great fun!  Also some recent pics of the kids.  Enjoy!

Getting warm after a dip! 

Daddy can't resist taking moments like this.

The kids play so well together....this will last forever, right?!?

Our newest hanging out on the couch w/Momma.

                    Making the castle.                                             Being knighted by Fiona!

Family and the Naval Academy

Been pretty quiet around here without 2 little ones running around making noise, but we're looking forward to them getting back home.  With the smaller family footprint, we've been able to do some traveling and camping on the weekends.  We made a trip to the Naval Academy last weekend as we've long wanted to see it and Annapolis.  We'll certainly go back, maybe in Oct for the International Boat Show!  Anyhow, just a couple pics from the trip and some new ones of the family.  Enjoy.

Reagan enjoying herself in the mirror on her playmat.

A pirate ship!  Kids will love this one!

Reagan is smiling much more often now and we love it!

My lovely bride (of almost 10yrs!)

 Daddy does my hair.

Uncle Patrick took the kids to the home improvement store...fun!

Ironman!

Bill finished his first Ironman 70.3 yesterday in Syracuse, NY!  Below is the bib number and finisher's medal.  This is hopefully the first of many to come, and maybe someday a full Ironman (140.6 miles!).  Today is the mandatory massage, as the soreness has already set in, but it's worth it.  Will post race pictures later if we get some.  Until then...see ya.

Maddie trying on Daddy's swim cap.

Family photos

The Family von Maples!

Momma holding Reagan after a bath

Post-bath crazy hair!

Having fun w/the Mac.

Hunter's summer haircut

Awwww!

So we've had lots of fun w/the expanded family lately, to include the unexpected visit from Uncle Patrick this weekend!  He was in Virginia on business and extended his stay through yesterday.  It was great to see him and the kids LOVED it!  They couldn't get enough, and proved it by waking him up at 7am Saturday morning to start playing again!  :)  He taught them a new trick called the 'Maddie/Hunter burrito'!  Charlie got into the action too when we introduced peanut butter.  It was a very fun weekend for all and won't be forgotten for a long time.  

Charlie enjoying a 'Maddie burrito'!

Another proud Grandma!

A BIG burrito!

The kids love their Uncle P.

Grammy chasing Maddie w/the hose!

Cameo by Reagan

More baby & misc pics

Just a few more pics from the week along w/some other random photos.  Kids are getting used to the idea of having another little one in the house and ask daily to hold her.   Reagan had her first checkup and all is well.  She had already gained 2 oz back and the doc said everything is normal.  She is sleeping quite well, feeding every ~3hrs or so.  Thus far she has been an 'easy' baby, but time intensive nonetheless.  We are quite enjoying having her around and look forward to introducing her to family & friends very soon.  In the meantime, enjoy the pics below.

This week was also the Marine Aviation Centennial Celebration, so Bill has had to work a few days and it will culminate with a black tie dinner w/Bruce tonight.  Hopefully we'll have a couple pictures from that for a future post.  Until then, enjoy!

Easter fun at Grandma/Grandpa's house.

Maddie graduated from pre-K this week!